Folding gang-plank.



E. J. MILLER.

FOLDING GANG PLANK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1s, 1909.

963,918.. Patented Ju1y12,191o.

2 summa-SHEET 1.

wil/bm cose@ fum E. J. MILLER.

FOLDING GANG PLANK.

APPLICATION HLBD AUG. 1a, 1909.

963,91 8. Patented July 12, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i E E i i l 28 l fd/ 2% J $2955 \`.f l v l l ELIZABETH a'. MILLER, or onnvILLE, omo.

' romaine GANG-PLANE.

spammen of man rama Patented July 12, 19.10.

Application mangue 18,1909. semina 513,496.

To all 'whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH J. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orrville, in the county of Wayne, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Folding Gang-Flanke; an I do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description o the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in folding gang planks and similar structures, and has for one of its objects to im rove the construction and increase the efclency and utility of devices of this character. v

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the inven-v tion, Figure 1- is a side elevation of the improved device in open or operative position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same from beneath, with the supporting legs in section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improved device in folded position.

.The improved device may be employed in connection with vessels, freight cars, wagons, or the like, and may be of any required size to adapt the improved device to the structure in connection with which it is to be employed, and it is not desired therefore to limit the'invention to any specific size, or to any specific proportions of the parts.

The improved device comprises a plurality of sections hingedly united to fold into a relatively small space when not in use, and any required 'number of the sections may be employed, but for the purpose of illustration three of the sections are shown. The sections are represented at -11-12 and hingedly united end to end. The section 11 is providedwith a transverse cleat 13 rigidly p supported, preferably by bolts, to its underface at its lower end and projecting beneath the contiguous end of the lower section 10. The sections 10-11 are united at their confronting ends by hinges 14, the hinges being preferably sunken into the upper surfaces of the sections, so that no portion projects above their upper surfaces. p

Connected beneath the section 11 at its upper end is a transverse cleat 15, and connected beneath the lower face of the u per section 12 at its lower end is a correspon cleat 16, the two cleats 15-16 A being ar ran ed to bear against each other? at their con onting faces. Suitable hinges 17 are connected to the cleats 125-16 upon their lower faces, to hingedly unite the sections 11-12. By this means the hinges 17 are spaced a considerable distance from the upper faces of the sections 11--12, and thus materiell strengthen and support the sections an preventin downward deflection when in use. The oot portion of the section 10 is provided with a plate metal guard 18, to prevent abrasion of the section, which are generally formed of wood.

At its u per end the section 12 is rovided with suitalble metal hooks 19 to ena le it to be connected to the structure witbwhich it is to be employed. The cleat 13 is provided with recesses at its ends, the recesses coming wholly beneath the section 11 when the sections are in open position, and pivoted at 2Q within these recesses are sup ortiug legs 21-22 The recesses are so ormed that shoulders are produced .against which the legs 21-22 bear when in their vertical or operative positions, as shown. By this means the legs are limited in their movement in one direction, as will be obvious. At their lower ends the le 22--21 are provided with extension mem ers 23 in tubular form, and pointed at their free ends to engage in the ground and prevent the slipping of the leg when in use. The extension members 23 are provided with clamp screws 25, whereby they may be clamped in any desired position to the legs 2122.

The cleat 15 is provided at one end with a recess similar to the recesses of the cleat 13 which has just been described, while the cleat 16 is provided with a similar recess at the end opposite to the recess of the cleat 15. Pivoted at 27 to the cleat 15 within its recess is a leg 28, and pivoted at 29 in the recess of the cleat 16 is a similar leg 30. Adj ustably engaging over the leg 28 is a tubular extension 31, while a similar tubular extension 32 en-V gages over the leg 30. The extension 31 is provided with a clamp screw 33, while the extension 32 is provided with clam screws 34, to enable the extensions to be a justably coupled to the leg members. Means are thus provided for extending the various leg members to any required extent within the range of the tubular extensions, as will be obvious.

By this means the sections 1 O-1112 when arranged in extended p osltion matbe adjusted with the end having the hoo s 1 9 1ocated at any elevation to adapt the device to the various structures to which it is to be applied. The cleat 13, as above noted, 1s extended at one edge beneath the contiguous end ofthe section 10 so that the downward strains are borne almost entirely by the cleat, and the hinges 14 relieved from downward strain. j

When not in use, the section 10 is folded upon the section 11 and the section 12 folded beneath the section 11 as shown in Fi 3. Hooks 35-36 and eyes 37--38 are .provlded between the leg members and the sections 10-11, so that the dparts may be secured together in their fol ed position. Means are provided for-handling the improved structure when in its larger form, or when used in connection with vessels or like structures, and this means will preferably be a suitable hoisting tackle which will be attached to suitable eyes 39-40 connected respectively to the sections 10--12, as shown. The leg portions 21-22 and 28--29 are preferably of Wood, while the extension members to the le s will be of metal of suitable strength to ena le the improved device to withstand the severe strains to which it will be subjected.

What is claimed is 1. A device of the class described comprisin a plurality of sections arranged end to en a cleat secured to one of said sections and projecting at its free edge beneath the confronting end of the adjoining section,

hinges uniting two of said sections adjacent to said projecting cleat, and supporting legs swinging from said cleat.

2. A device of the class described compris-V ing a plurality of sections arranged end to end, a cleatlsecured to one of said sections and projecting at its free edge beneath the confronting end of the adjoining section, hinges uniting two of said sections adjacent to said projecting cleat, supporting legs swinging from said cleat, and extension members connected to said supporting legs.

3. A device `of the class described com prising a plurality of sections arranged end 4to end, a cleat secured to one of said sections and projecting at its free edge beneath the confronting end of the adjoining section, cleats secured beneath another two of said sections and engaging face to face, hinges Vuniting two of said sections adjacent to said esame projecting cleats, hinges applied Vto said fac- 1n vcleats su ortin le s swin in from saigd first meiiiaionedlea and sguporting legs swinging from said facing cleats.

4. A device of the class described Ycomprising a plurality of sections arran ed end to en a cleat secured to one of said sections and projecting at its free edge beneath the confronting end of the adjoinin section, said cleat having recessesin its ends, hinges uniting two of said sections adjacent to said pro'ectin cleat, and supporting legs pivote to sa1d cleat within said recesses.

'5. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of sections arranged end to end, a cleat secured to one of said sections and projecting at its free edge beneath the confronting end of the adjoinin section, saidlcleat having recesses in its en s, hinges uniting two of said sections'adjacent to said projecting cleat, supporting legs pivoted to said cleat within sa1d recesses, and extension members connected to Asaid supporting legs.

6. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of sections arran ed end to end, a cleat secured to one of sa1d sections and projecting at its free edge beneath the confronting end of the adjoining section, said cleat having recesses in its ends, hinges uniting two of said sections adjacent to said projecting cleat, supporting legs pivoted to said cleats within sa1d recesses tubular extension members fitting over said legs, and means for clamping said extension members to said legs.

7. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of sections arranged end to end, a cleat secured to one of said sections and projecting at its free edge beneath the confronting end of the adjoining section, said cleat having recesses in its ends, hinges uniting two of said sections adjacent to said projecting cleat, supporting legs pivoted in the recesses yof said projecting cleat, cleats secured beneath anothertwo of said sections Vand engaging face/to face, said last mentioned cleats each having a recess in one end,

hinges uniting twol of said sections adjacent 1 to said projecting cleat, hinges applied to said facing cleats, and supporting legs piv-` oted within the recesses of said facing cleats.`

In testimony whereof,- Laliix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ELIZABETH J. MILLER. Witnesses:

M. J. LEICKHEIM JOHN LEININGER. 

